Allard Motor Works was founded immediately after WWII by Sydney Allard, son of a Ford dealer in Britain. Allard had already built racing specials, but his production car efforts were aimed at America. The radical-looking J1 and J2 were fitted with big American V8s, though in a nod to affordability, the Palm Beach was introduced with a 1.5-liter Ford Consul in-line four, or the 2.3-liter Zephyr six. The Palm Beach was swankier than the MG TD and Triumph’s new TR2: its styling was modern, its sheet metal was aluminum, and finishes were a cut above. Still, like many small-batch car companies, Allard didn’t last long: after about 82 copies of the Palm Beach – Mk I and II – were put on the ground, the company expired. Here on eBay, offered by a dealer located in Lebanon, Tennessee, is a 1953 Allard Palm Beach looking for a starting bid of $33,500. No takers have stepped up yet.
We’re told that the former owner had the car for more than 50 years. He restored the car several years ago, and in the process, set it up for long-distance driving. The engine is a 307 cu. in. small block, rebuilt and bored 40 over, mated to a rebuilt Borg Warner five-speed. A Ford rear end with highway gears and an extra gas tank makes travel easy. The engine bay is nice enough, and the underside is very clean – evidence of a good caretaker.
The interior has been customized with soft leather bucket seats, a wood dash, an aluminum gearshift knob, an aftermarket steering wheel, and other bespoke touches. The door panels, carpet, and seat belt webbing all match. A slender roll bar sits behind the seats, likely eradicating use of the convertible top, though it does have a tonneau cover. From the factory, this roadster would have been supplied with side curtains.
Outside hood and door latches benchmark the styling to the 1950s. This car wears optional wire wheels, and the owner has fitted a bonnet strap. I like the driving lamps set into the grille. It’s tough to find a stock Palm Beach these days, among the few survivors. This immaculate ’56, with its original “big” Ford six, was bid to $92k without reaching its reserve about a year ago. Today’s example might be had for a fraction of that price. Is this customized British roadster a tempting prospect?
BUY It now at $49k seems not bad for a price. Nice lines!
Very Very nice. Set up for modern day driving. So much cooler and exclusive than the big Healys seen at every British car show. I don’t think this will last long.
It’s still sitting there with 0 bids with 1 day left on the auction — that doesn’t bode well for a sale. — And I can see why – there’s only 1 photo of the car on the ebay site. You’re NOT going to sell a car with ONE photo. The photos shown here on Barn Finds aren’t even there.
— A little known car like this needs the EXACT opposite; every detail itemized, and as many photos as possible showing every aspect of the car to the market. The way they’re doing it – the car will stay sitting where it is for a while.
When you go to the eBay listing there is an option to click on “full size photos”. That takes you directly to all the photos I used.
some 1 buying this already knows allbout not just the model but probably the very car.
A true beauty. How sad they bit the dust despite building a truly magnificent sports roadster. Someone with the necessary wherewithal will get himself a jewel.
Many pix on the dealers site, but you have to find it!
If you have to go searching for anything about something up for sale – the seller doesn’t really want to sell it. And with 0 bids with one day left on the auction, it looks like they are getting exactly what they want.
These kind of things happen when an estate wants to pass something on to someone not on the inheritors list for a certain price, and so the estate management has to put it up for sale to others to be fair to the inheritors to get the most $ value from the item – and this smacks of what’s happening here.
Just go to the E-Bay listing and just scroll down there are over 50 pictures. You do not have to go searching for anything all the pictures are right there.
I’m a cheapskate I think its over priced, but I also think if I owned it I would definitely enjoy it
Beautiful car, well built and rare! Usually they were Cadillac powered! I would love to drive one. No need to own, though. I agree with the above comment about it being more exclusive than a big Healey. Many would mistake it for one!! It’s a bit out of my price range, however I would buy it if I just had that money lying around!!
The Mark II was much better looking … hence the higher price with its original engine.
that was J2, J2X and JR, a 331 ci caddy w/trip Brit carbs.
Guy here hasa internationally renown restoration shop
w/12 or 15 of these getting put back to what they were or
an upgraded to what owner wants now. It’s all w a y over my
kinda billfold so real nice to see a variation on my own theme
(‘antique trucks’). My favs are the safari (I’m called Wagonman)
P1 & 2, the K & L. WoW, those “50s” guys really had it goin on, no?
This lill guy reminds me of when they asked Frank Loyd Wright “And
where’s the common man’s house?” (how many can afford what he built?)
So he gave them the Unisonian (1 here in town from back then). This here pip
squeak is a lill more affordable but still pure Allard~